What's REALLY going on in politics in Loudoun County, Virginia

Math that Even a Loudoun Supervisor Might Be Able to Understand

By the way, one of the most nauseating bits of rhetorical evasion to come from Chairman Scott York (R-At Large) and Supervisor Ralph Buona (R-Ashburn) regarding the $20 million cut in the school budget the Board just voted is their pseudo-indignant insistence that it is not a “cut,” since the budget will nominally increase from last year. Did someone fail to tell them the little fact that the schools will be adding 2,500 additional pupils come September? Apparently so. So here’s the facts in a form that — possibly — even a Loudoun County Supervisor can understand:

The Loudoun County Public Schools will be increasing the number of enrolled students by 3.8 percent next year.

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted to increase the school budget by only 2.5 percent next year.

If that’s not clear, here’s another way to explain it:

The Loudoun County Public Schools currently spend approximately $12,000 per pupil per year.

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors just voted to provide only $8,000 per pupil for the 2,500 additional students being added to the school population next year.

By comparison, Fairfax spends $13,000 per pupil; Montgomery County, Maryland, $15,000; and Arlington and Alexandria $18,000.

Here’s a small suggestion, Chairman York and Supervisor Buona: If you’re going to insult the people of Loudoun County by arbitrarily slashing the school budget as a prop for some bit of right-wing political tax-cutting theater, at least don’t insult our intelligence by trying to claim it’s not a “cut.”